Rain guard for track scales



H.'STARR "RAIN GUARD FOR TRACK SCALES Filed NOV. 4. 1927 Patented May 8, 1928.

UNITED s STATES PATENT QFFICE.

MORTON HULL STARR, OF RUTLAND, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR TO THE EOXVE SCALE COMPANY, OF RUTLAND, VERMONT,

A CORPORATION OF VERMONT.

RAIN GUARD FOB- TRACK SCALES.

Application filed November 4, 1827. Serial No. 231,084.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in rain guards for track scales. 1

In the usual type of track scales a pit is provided in which a. weighing mechanism located, and disposed. above the pit is a rigid deck having enings therein through which project supporting means for the rails. Cars which are to be weighed are positioned on these rails and as a result, the load is transmitted to the weighing mechanism through the medium of the rail supporting means. These slots or openings e tend substantially the full length of the deck and consequently rain water. ashes, and otherforeign matter, will readily gravitate through these slots into the pit unless some means is provided for guarding these slots against the ingress of such foreign matter.

Among the several objects of my invention are to provide a guard or shield which is constructed and supported in a manner whereby all foreign matter will be prevented from passing downwardly through the openine's into the pit; to provide a rain guard which is removably supported in operative position whereby said guard may be readily removed or replaced without the necessity of loosening any fastening means such as bolts or the like, and to provide a rain guard which is supported in operative position relative to the rail without the necessity of performing any operation on the rail itself, such as the drilling of openings in the web for at taching supporting means for the guard.

\Vith these and other objects in view which will more fully appear the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by following the description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

Referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one form of my invention:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a platform scale showing the application of my invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through the deck and one of the rails, showing my rain guard supported in operative position, i T

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3Yof Figure '1. parts thereof being shown in e evati n, and

Figure 4t is a perspective view of one of the rail clamps which forms a fulcrum support for the rain guard.

Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout these eral figures of the drawings.

In the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the rigid deck 5 is provided wih two openings 6 in which are respectively located the supports 7 for the rails S, the supports being connected to the weighing mechanism (not shown) located within the pit 9 below the deck. Although I have shown two elongated openings 6 in the form of slots, it will be understood that each support may extend into a single opening formed in the deck.

, Each rail 8 includes the usual head 11, and base flanges 12-42. and is 10, web 1 i L Secured o the associated supports 7 by means of rail clamps 13 and bolts 14. Each rail is located centrally of its slot 6, and consequently re sultant side openings are created between the sides of the'rail and the adjacent edges of the deck formed by the slot 6. i

T have therefore provided a guard 15 for each of said openings and inasmuch as these guards are identical the description of one will suffice.

Each guard 15 is formed of sheet metal of indeterminate length, is supported by the rail clamps 13, and is held through gravity in contact with the underface of the rail head 10. The width of the guard is sufficient to overhang the adjacent edge of the slot 6, and the guard is provided along its outer side with depending flange or apron 16. This apron l6 overlaps an upstanding guard rail 17 which is fixed to the deck 5 and extends along the edge of the slot 6. The guard 15 is supported at an inclination for the purpose of shedding the water from the rail head, across the slot, and onto the deck. The apron 16 and the upstanding guard rail 17 cooperate to prevent water and other foreign matter from passing over the edge of the slot 6' and into the pit 9. The apron 16 and the guard rail 17 are spaced apart a sufficient distance to permit open communication between the pit and the atmosphere, thus allowing any damp air or foul'odors to readily escape from the pit.

In order to support the rain guard 15 by (ill the rail clamps 13, I have provided the clamp with an offset portion which constitutes a fulcrum support for the rain guard; Specifically, the rail clamp 13 consists of a single casting having a main or attaching portion 18, an inner clamping portion 19, and an offset guard supporting por tion 20 which extends laterally from the attaching portion 18. attaching portion 18 is recessed as at 21, and the under-surfaces of the clamping portion 19 and the offset portion 20 are inclined as at 22 in the same plane for proper seating on the base flange 12 of the rail.

The clamping bolt 14- passes through an opening 28 formed in the attaching portion 18 for engagement with the associated railsupport 7.

The offset guard-supporting portion 20 is formed with av pair of spaced upstanding ears 2l-2 l which extend longitudinally of the rail and with a transverse vertical web 25 which is disposed centrally between and is united with said ears, the ears extending slightly above the upper edge of the web to form resultant stops 24.

Secured to the underface of each rain guard 15 by spot welding, or by any other desirable means, is a plurality of fulcrum brackets 26, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1. Preferably there are as many braclrets as there'are rail clamps, but a lesser number of brackets may be employed if desired. Each bracket is of angle construction in cross-section to provide an attaching base 27 and :1. depending flange 28. The flange 28 parallels the rail 8 and is formed with an inverted V-shaped recess 29 which extends upwardly from the lower edge thereof. The recesses 29 form seats for cooperative engagements with the upper edges of the webs Q5 of the associated rail clamps 13, and thereby serve not only to support the rain guard, but also to prevent longitudinal movement of the guard. The steps 21- serve to limit the transverse movement of the brackets 26 on the rail clamps.

By offsetting the guard-supporting portion 20, a clear space for the bolt 14 is provided and consequently the bolt is readily accessible whenever it desired to secure thebolt in position or to remove the same.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided a rain guard which can be readily removed by simply swinging the same on its fulcrum, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 2, and then lifting the guard bodily away from its support; that the sup port for the guard is of a construction which avoids the necessity of performing an extra operation on the rail, and that the guard and its support are of extremely simple construction. 1

It is of course to be understood that the The underface of the and having a rail support extending up wardly into said opening, a rail mounted on said support. a rail clamp secured to said support for engaging the base flange of the rail, and a rain guard fulcrumed on said clamp and having contact along its inner edge with the under face of the rail head and having its outer edge overhanging the adjacent edge of said deck opening.

2. In a railway track scale, the combination with a rigid deck having an opening therein, of a scale disposed below said deck and having a rail support extending upwardly into said opening, a rail mounted on said support, a rail clamp secured to said support for engaging the base flange of the rail and including an upstanding and transversely disposed portion, and a rain guard fulcrumed on the transversely disposed portion of said clamp and having contact along its inner edge with theunder face of the rail head and having its outer-edge overhanging the adjacent edge of said deck opening 3. In a railway track scale, the combination with a rigid deck having an opening therein, of a scale disposed below said deck and having a rail support extending upwardly into said opening, a rail mounted on said support, a rail clamp secured to said support for engaging the base flange of the rail and including an upstanding and trans vcrsely disposed portion, and a rain guard fulcrumed on the transversely disposed portion of said clamp and having contact along its inner edge with the-under face of the rail head and having its outer edge overhanging the adjacent edge of said deck opening, said rain guard being provided with a depending bracket havingan i nverted V-shapcd recess extending upwardly from its lower edge to form a seat for cooperati on with the upstanding transverse portion of the clamp.

il. Ina railway track scale. the combination with as rigid deck having an opening therein, of a scale disposed below said. d cl: and having a rail support extending upwardly into said opening, a. rail mounted on said support, a rail clamp secured to said support for engaging the base fiange of the rail and including an attaching portion and an offset portion, said offset portion having an upstanding and transversely'disposed web, and a rain guard fulcrumed on the web of said clamp and having contact along its inner edge with the'under face of the rail head and having its outer edge overhanging the adjacent edge of said deck opening.

In a railway track scale, the combination with a rigid deck having an opening therein, of a scale disposed below said deck and having a rail support extending upwardly into said opening, a rail mounted on said support, a rail clainp secured to said support for engaging the base flange of the rail and including an attaching portion and an offset portion, said offset portion having a pair of longitudinally extending ears and a transverse connecting web, the ears projeeting above the web to form stops, and a rain guard fulcruined on the web of the clamps and between the stops formed by the ears and having contact along its inner edge with the under face of the rail head and having its outer edge overhanging the adjacent edge of said deck opening.

6. In a railway track scale, the combination with a rigid deck having an opening therein, of a scale disposed below said deck and having a rail support extending upward into said opening, a rail mounted on said support, a rail clainp secured to said support for engaging the base flange of the rail, said rail clamp comprising an attaching portion, an inner clamping portion, and an offset portion extending laterally from the attaching portion, said oifs-et portion being provided with an upstanding and transversely disposed supporting portion, and a rain guard fulcrumed on the upper edge of said upstanding and transversely disposed portion of said clamp and having contact along its inner edge with the under face oi the rail head and having its outer edge overhanging the adjacent edge of said deck opening.

7. In a railway track scale, the combination with a rigid deck having an opening therein, of a scale disposed below said deck and having a rail support extending up- Jardly into said opening, a rail mounted on said support, a rail clamp secured to said support for engaging the base flange of the rail, said rail clainp comprising an attaching portion, an inner clamping portion, and an otiset port-ion extending laterally from the attaching portion, said otiset portion being provided with an upstanding and trans- 'ersely disposed supporting portion, and a, rain guard fulcrunied on the upper edge of said upstanding and transversely disposed portion of said clamp and having contact along its inner edge with the under face of the rail head and having its outer edge overhanging the adjacent edge of said deck opening, the under faces of the clamping portion and the offset portion being arranged in the same plane for direct contact with the base flange of the rail.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atiiX my signature.

MORTON HULL STARR. 

